Prince of the South: Why Orlando Radio Host Memphis Should Be Your Next Best Friend

“Peace on the Streets.” The radio show name sounds catchy, but for Memphis, it’s more than just a phrase — it’s a lifestyle and brand. The Memphis-born personality uses his show, which launched on JoyGospelRadio.com in August 2013, as a hub for consumers and businesses each weeknight from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. by conducting brief interviews with local businesses, organizations, and entrepreneurs. He also discusses tough social issues on his show, including domestic violence, suicide, and romantic relationships, welcoming expertise from life coaches, counselors, and ministers.

If you’ve got something to promote, you’re certainly interested now, but here’s why he should be your next best friend: because he genuinely enjoys helping people like you. “I want people to get exposure without breaking the bank,” Memphis told me in a recent phone interview. “No matter how big the show gets, we will still have a discount for people who can’t afford [to pay a lot for] marketing.”

The Uphill Climb

As the second oldest raised by a single mom in a household with seven sisters and a brother, Memphis said his mother raised him to be respectful and honest, but firm, cultivating him to raise his siblings. He even taught them how to drive. She was the fuel behind his determination. “We went for three months without lights one summer,” he shared. “Mom didn’t let the kids make excuses. She taught us to deal with it.”

That’s now translated to his adult life. “I don’t like complainers and whiners. I have short patience for excuses,” he explained. “If there’s a problem, let’s figure it out and keep it moving. If you focus on the problem, it’ll become a part of you.”

While that sounds dismissive, here’s the context: Memphis’ childhood goal was to help people, and he’s been a listening ear and counselor in his own right since the age of seven, when his pastor vented to him about his frustrations. Any counselor worth his salt needs a balance of compassion and a firm sense of accountability.

He maintains that balance as a greeter and security guard for FaithWorld Center, a popular church in Altamonte Springs, FL. “I’m always looking for that one person to connect to,” he said of church newcomers. He said he likes making them feel comfortable and seats them in VIP to make them feel special.

Memphis studied at HBCU Langston University in Oklahoma for which he’d scored a scholarship. “It was one of my best but broke-est times of my life,” he admitted. He eventually left and went to a two-year tech school, juggling a full time job and five classes each weekday. “I had no life for a year and a half.” During that time, he got into landscaping; and since he loved working with kids, he eventually studied to be a physical education/gym teacher, and became a coach.

Memphis bounced around the country a bit, working in Ohio, Louisiana, and other states, even managing a corner grocery store for a while, working from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. He had put his “career on the back burner” for his family.

The Orlando Transition

Memphis brought his kids to Orlando on vacation from Louisiana, and decided to move to Kissimmee and formed his landscaping company, TLC Flower Bed Specialists. While working lawns and coaching, he also emceed for different parties and events, which cracked the deejay door open. “While I was coaching, I got recruited as commentator, [and] I gave myself the ‘Prince of the South’ name.”

His popularity escalated, landing him gigs in clubs, and an initial gig with JoyGospelRadio.com (JGR) called “1 800 Whatever You Need,” which served as a directory program. He was coaching the Osceola Panthers football team and conducting business with JGR when he received his second show offer, and “Peace on the Streets” was born.

Peace on the Streets Now

Though the show hasn’t yet reached its one-year mark, it’s already improved. Memphis recently hired veteran event and celebrity photographer Sophia Jones as his Executive Producer. She sets the show up, schedules the interviews and manages the show’s social media presence. Show fans can see the difference on the Facebook page: there’s an increase of on-location photos with Memphis and local business owners or employees he interviews on the show. In addition to Facebook, “Peace on the Streets” also has an Instagram account.

Now that his children are adults, Memphis focuses most of his energy on his landscaping business and the radio show. “I want to leave a legacy for my kids and grandkids.” He sees his children less often now, but still makes time to unplug with them doing fun activities like bowling and playing video games.

Listeners can tune in to the stream on JoyGospelRadio.com or call (401) 347-0395 and press 1 to listen in. Businesses, organizations, and entrepreneurs seeking promotion can email peaceonthestreetsorlando@gmail.com.

Images courtesy of Peace on the Streets, Ready Inc., and Sophia Jones.

About the Author:
Downtown Orlando Fashion Week Chief Editor Mellissa Thomas is a Jamaica-born writer. She’s a decorated U.S. Navy veteran with Entertainment Business Masters and Film Bachelors degrees from Full Sail University in Winter Park, FL.

She’s currently available for hire, writing content for websites, blogs, and marketing material. She also writes poetry, screenplays, and ghostwrites books.